Air Fryer Steak
Air fryer steak gives you a well-browned outside and a pink middle in 10 minutes, with no smoking pan and no oil spitting across the hob. Thick sirloin steaks work best: pat them dry, season simply and cook at 200°C, turning once. A meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of doneness, and a short rest keeps the juices in the meat when you slice it.
- Total
- 43 min
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 13 min
- Serves
- 2
- Per serving
- 440kcal
Choosing and preparing the steak
Sirloin is a good choice for the air fryer because it has a strip of fat that bastes the meat as it cooks. Buy steaks that are at least 2.5cm thick and about the same size, so they finish together. Ribeye works too, and air fryer ribeye steak has the timings for that cut.
For air fryer steak, season just before cooking and keep the salt to ½ tsp for two steaks. Salting too early draws moisture to the surface and stops the meat browning.
Step-by-step air fryer steak
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Take the steaks out of the fridge Leave the steaks on a plate at room temperature for , so the middle is not fridge-cold when cooking starts. Heat the air fryer to 200°C for in the meantime.
- Dry and season Pat both sides of each steak very dry with kitchen paper, which helps them brown. Rub the oil over the meat, then sprinkle with the salt, pepper and garlic powder on both sides.
- Cook the first side Lay the steaks in the basket in a single layer, with space around each one so the hot air can circulate. Cook at 200°C for .
- Turn and finish Turn the steaks with tongs and cook for more: 3 for rare, 4 for medium-rare and 5 for medium. Push a meat thermometer into the side of the thickest part to check.
- Rest and slice Lift the steaks onto a warm plate, cover loosely with foil and rest for . Slice across the grain to serve.
Resting and serving
Resting for 5 minutes lets the juices settle, so more of them stay in the slices rather than running out on the board. Serve the steak with chips, a green salad or buttered vegetables. If you have any steak left over, cold slices make a great steak sandwich.
Common problems and fixes for Air Fryer Steak
- The steak is grey and pale instead of well browned.
- Moisture on the surface is the usual cause. Pat the steaks dry, preheat the air fryer for the full 3 minutes and keep the steaks in a single layer with gaps between them.
- The steak is more cooked than you wanted.
- Air fryers vary, so start checking the temperature a minute early. Take the steak out 3–5°C below your target, because it keeps rising while it rests.
- Thin steaks overcook before they brown.
- Choose sirloin at least 2.5cm thick. A steak 1.5cm thick needs only 2–3 minutes per side at 200°C.
Frequently asked questions about Air Fryer Steak
How long do you cook steak in an air fryer?
A 2.5cm sirloin steak takes about 8 minutes for medium-rare and 10 minutes for medium at 200°C, turned halfway. Thicker steaks need a few minutes longer, so rely on the thermometer.
What temperature should the steak reach?
Take it out at 48°C for rare, 52°C for medium-rare and 57°C for medium. After a 5-minute rest it will rise by about 3–5°C. Steak is a whole piece of meat, so it is safe to serve pink as long as the outside has been properly seared.
Do you need to preheat the air fryer for steak?
Yes, preheating for 3 minutes means the surface starts to brown the moment the steak goes in. Without it, the steak spends longer cooking and ends up greyer.
Can you cook steak from frozen in the air fryer?
It is better not to. The outside overcooks while the middle stays frozen. Defrost the steak in the fridge overnight, then pat it dry before seasoning.
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